Liquid-level indicator



June 29 1926.

C. A. DE GIERS LIQUID LEVEL INDICATOR Filed May 28. 1920 that even after Patented June 29, 1926.

UNITED STATES GLABRIQBA. m (HERE,

0]? NEW YORK, 11'. Y., ASBIGIIOB 1'0 LIQUIDOIITIR comm,

A CORPORATION 01' nnnawm.

LIQUID-LEVEL INDICATOR.

V Application fled It! 38, 1am. letlal 1T0. 8?,790.

, This invention relates to certain improve of that class in w ich the quantity of liquid in a tank or similar receptacle may be indicated at any desired point, the mechanism of the indicator being operated by the height of the fluid in the receptacle.

It is the es ial obyect of the invention to produce su a mechanism of simple construction in which a closed compressible chamber filled with suitable indicating fluid is provided, this chamber being directly connected to a float actuated by li uid in the receptacle thereby eliminating all floats with their necessary arms, lunged joints, bearings, packings, etc.

A further ob ect of the invention is to Erovidesuch a mechanism which will have at a small movement to effect its indicating function and one which can he used in any tank or well, and particularly in deep and narrow ones.

A further object of the invention is to produce an indicator and operating mechanism therefor of this class which can be emplo 'ed in a tank from which the fluid is p cjecte under pressure, such for instance, as certain, t pea of fuel tanks used in automobiles an air glane construction.

A further 0 ject of the invention is to reduce devices for effecting the principa objects of the invention WllJCh shall be of few arts, cheap to construct, easily installs and by which, due to the lack of workingparts, there will be slight wear, so long service it will work ver accurately.

ith these and other objects, not specificully referred to, the invention consists in certain novel parts and combinations, which will be fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings and then pointed out in the claims annexed hereto.

In these drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section and partl broken away, of a preferred form of he device mounted in a tank.

Figure 2 is a vertical'sectional view partly broken away of the device shown in Fig. l, on an enlarged scale.

F igure 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4l of Fig. 2.

1 more, will be directly hi 5 is a sectional elevation of a m ed arrangement which may be used under certain conditions; and

F1 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of the disposition of two operating mechanisms arranged at different points in the tank and connected to a central indicating chamber which leads to an indicating device Referrin now to these drawings, the indicator an its operating mechamsm has been shown as employed with a tank, such as a fuel tank of an automobile, with which the indicator is particularly useful, but it will be understood that the type of containers with which the device may be used ma be of any character, it being particular y useful with deep or narrow tanks or xeoeptacles.

In these drawings, referring first to Figs. 1 to 4 the tank is indicated by the numeral 1. The indicator mechanism is see in o erative relation with the tank and will inc ude a closed chamber filled with a noncompressible indicatingeliquid and formed with walls which ms contracted and exanded in a vertica direction, but which will resist sidewise pressure so that the chamber may be used in pressure tanks and the like and not be operated by the air pressure therein. This chamber, furthereonnected with a float liquid in the tank, and will float a vertical movement in direct connection eliminating moving parts and rmitting the use of the device in deep an narrow structures, such as the baflled or partitioned tanks commonly used for containing motor fluid.

The specific construction of this closed chamber, which is marked 2, may be varied but preferably it is made of some resilient material which can be compressed and expanded longitudinally but which will resist sidewise pressure, such as thin copper, the walls of the chamber being bent or corru- 10o gated as indicated at 8, to form in effect a bellows, which will contract and e and vertically. The bottom wall 4 of the c amher is secured directly as by soldering, to a. stem 5 rising from a flan ed late ii, 105 which forms the top of the cat This float may be of any suitable character. As shown, it is a metal cylinder closed at each end and ofa length s'ufiicient to extend substantially between the top and bottom of the 110 actuated by the have with the the tank, this tank, so that its operative movement is ve small. In the best constructions, means w be provided for counterbalaneing the weight of this float so that the float will ad immediately to variations in the hei t of the liquid. In the particulsreonstruction illustrated, such com ensat' means is a spring 8 located at 0 bottom of the tank against which the lower end of the float contacts, this ring he tensioned to equalize the weight of the oat.

Guiding and protectm means are provided for the float whic may be of any suitable character. As shown, there is fprovided a casing 9 which may be in the arm of a web or spider having webs 10 with spaces 11 there-between through which the h uid in the tank has access to the float. This casing in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 extends through a suitable aperture 12 in the top of the tank and extends above the tank a suflicient distance to provide a compartment for the closed chamber 2, before referred to. This web casin a short distance above the bog of the ta is provided with a flange 1 hereinafter referred to, and with a top 14 which is preferably integral therewith. This top 14 as a central a erture through which extends with a tight t a neck 15 integral with the body of the chamber 2. This neck has tightly secured therein a plug 16 which is provided with an aperture 17 through which the indi catin liquid marked 18 which is held in the c amber 2, may be delivered to the indicating device roper. This indicating device, which is s own in the form of a gradua ted tube 19, is mounted on a plate or other suitable support 20 which may be attached to any desired part of a motor vehicle, air plane or other structure with which the evice is to be used, connection bein had with the closed chamber 2 through suitable piping 21 and an elbow 22 screwed into the plug 16, before referred to, the elbow and pipe bein connected by a con ling 23 of any suitable character. It wi be understood that any indicating device may be used instead of the graduate shown which is actuated by fluid pressure.

The chamber 2 may be filled with liquid in any suitable manner, but in the preferred construction, and so that further liquid may be supplied to the chamber in the event of loss, the lug 16, before referred to, is provided wit i a channel 24 which has an opening through the neck 15 which opening is closed in any suitable manner, as by a threaded plug 25. With this construction, y removing the plug the chamber 2 may be filled or may have additional liquid supplied therelo when desired.

In the best construction, the closed chamber 2 will be so positioned as to have an air space around it in communication with 1 action on any air acted by may be secured in position in various ways. As illustrated,

is provided a plate 2:! soldered or otherwise permanently secured to the tank and having an rture 28 through which the casing 9, be ore referred to, extends. This plate has formed thereon an exteriorly threa ed boss or projection 80 face of which forms a seat for the flange 13 of the casing 9, before referred to. Screwed ontothebossisaeapal havingarecesa32 into which the deluge 18 prolects. When this cap is screwed down, therefore, the casmg 9 and the part carried thereby are firmly clamped m position on the tank. The cap 31 is provided with a removable top plate 33, this top late secured to the 3p 5y screws Theneek 15 of the ole amber 2, before referred to, passes through the cap and plate which are suitably apertured to permit this, the neck having a tight fit in the aperture, and a packing 35 is provided around the neck between it and the top plate 88 to efl'ect a tight 'oint to revent air from escapin from c tank w ere-the device is used witii pressure tanks.

In constructions embodying the invention in its best form, means W1" be provided for adjusting the movement of the float with respect to the compression chamber so that the float may have the aired compremion e chamber epending on the t pe or form of indicator with which the once is used. e various constructions may be employed for this pur ose, in the particular construction illustrate there is provided a spring 86, taking at one end in the top of the float 7, before referred to, and at its other end against a cap 87. This cap and spring are shown as surrounding the aperture chum her 2, but are clear thereof, so that the spring may be moved inde dently of the compression chamber. 'l iii s spring is adjusted in any suitable manner as I)! set screws 38 passing through the to! o the casing 9, cfore referred to an these screws are preferably arrange so as to be beneath the screws 34 by which the top plate 33 is held in place so that by removing these screws 34 the screws 38 may be readily FldjUSlLll to ire the spring any desired tension.

t will be seen that by the construction described a very sensitive indicator mechanism has been provided and one which because of the few parts and the absence of moving parts will lust for a lo time without gelting out of order and 2%:

the upperich is simple and as the fue tan easy to install. This indicating mechanism may he used in a variet of ways, some of cured to the bottom of the tank it] any suit-.

able manner as by screws 42 screwed into the bottom of the tank. Float guides 44 are or may be provided for guiding the float in its movements in the cage. These float; guides 44 are in the form of spaced projections rising from the bottom of the cage 40, these projections being of a sufficient height to glide the float in its up and down movement, t float working inside these projections. The operating mechanism in this instance is the same as t at already described and need not be described again, the parts bei supported from the to of the cage 40, an connccted with the in icator (not shown in this fi no) by the pipe 21.

ith the device thus used, an increase in the amount of liquid in the tank will increase the pressure and con uently the lift of the floor which correspondingly actuates the indicator.

It may be desired for very accurate reading in tanks which are to be subjected to extreme ti pin or turning movements, such of motor cars or air planes to provide two of the operating mechanism disposed at diagonally opposzte corners of the tank, these two operating mechanisms delivering to a common collecting chamber which in turn leads to the indicator and such a construction is die rammatica lly illustrated in Fig. 6. As tiere shown there is a rectangular tank 50 of the usual type for supplying fuel to internal combustion motors. In diagonally op o'site corners of this tank are mounted, as be ore described, two of the operatingmechanisms, marked 51, 52, and pipes 53 lead from each of these mech anlsms to a common collectin chamber 54 from which a pipe 55 leads to e indicator. With this construction no matter how the tank is tipped or turned the two mechanisms co-o crate to ther to indicate the amount of uid in tie tank, the average of the two indicators being produced in the collecting chamber and an accurate reudin of the tank's contents can thus be obtained iVhile the invention has been shown and described in ils preferred form it will be understood that various chunges and varialions may be made in the specific details of the construction and the invention is not to be restricted to the exact construction shown and described, nor to the form of containers illustrated.

'hut I claim is:

l. The combination of a tank for containing liquid, a vertically moving float in the tank, a chamber directly connected to the float, said chamber containing a fluid and bei adapted to be compresse or ex anded by e movement of the float, an in icator,

fluid pressure connections from the chamber to the indicator and means for effecting the compression of the chamber for adjusting the movementof the float.

2. The combination of a tank for contain- .ing liquid, 9. closed chamber of compressible metal formed in the shape of a bellows containing a fluid an indicatin device, means connecting indicating evice with the closed chamber, a float in the tank and directl connected to the chamber for vertica yexpanding and contracting it, and means for effecting the compression of the ghartnber for adjusting the movement of the 3. The combination of a tank for containing liquid, a closed compressible chamber containing a fluid, an indicator connected with the chamber, a vertically moving float 1n the tank, means directly connecting the float to the chamber, and means for eflecting its com ression for adjusting the movement oi the oat.

. 4. The combination of a tank for containing a liquid, a closed com rcssible chamber containin a fluid, an in icator connected with the c amber, a float in the tank, means directly connecting the float to the chamber, and a springwith means for adjusting it for varyi pg the compressi action of the float,

5. e combination 0 a tank for containing liquid, a bellows shaped chamber of resilient material containing a fluid, an indicator connected with the chamber, a float in the tank, means directly connecting the float to the chamber a. casin open to the liquid in the tank on surroun ing the float, and means for counterbalancing the weight of the float.

6. The combination of a tank for containing liquid, 0, bellows shaped chamber of resilient metal compressible in the direction of its vertical axis and containing a fluid, an indicator connected with the chamber, a float in the tank, means directly connecting the flqat to the chamber for effecting its compression, a casing open to the find in the tank and surrounding the chamber and the float, and means adjustable through the casing for varying the compression actlon of the float.

7. The combination of a tank for containing liquid, 9. pair of compressible chambers containing a fluid disposed at diagonally opposite corners of the tank, a chamber common to both compression chambers, an indicator, means connecting the indicator with the common chamber, and a pair of floats in the tank and directly connected to their respective compression chambers for efiecting their compression.

8. The combination of a tank for containing liquid, a closed compressible chamber containing a fluid, an indicator connected with the chamber, a verticallymoving float in the tank, means connecting the float in the chamber beneath and to line therewith for effecting its compression, and means for counterbalancing the weight of the float.

9. The combination of a tank for containing liquid, :1. bellows shaped chamber of resilient metal compressible in the direction of its vertical axis and containing a fluid, an indicator, means connecting the indicator with the chamber, a float in the tank di rectly connected to the chamber for efl'ectin its compression, a casing open to the flui in the tank and surrounding the chamber and float, a spring independent of the chamber and cooperating with the float for resisting its liftin action, and means adjustable through the casing for varying the tension of the spring.

10. The combination of a tank for containing liquid, a bellows shaped chamber of resilient metal compressible 1n the direction of its vertical axis and containing a fluid, a float in the tank connected to the chamber, a neck secured to the chamber and having a liquid outlet, an indicator, pipe connec tions from theoutlet to the indicator, and a filling inlet extending through theneck of the interior of the chamber.

11, The combination of a tank for containing liquid, a chamber oompressible in the direction of its vertical axis and COIN/81D ing a fluid, an indicator, means connecting the indicator with the chamber, a float in the tank connected to the chamber, a closing means arranged about the chamber to leave an air space around the chamber in communication with the tank, and means for sealing the closing means against escape of air from the tank.

12. The combination of a tank for contai liquid, a bellows shaped chamber of resl "ent metal compressible in the direction of its vertical axis and containing a fluid, a float of small diameter and substantially the depth of the tank directly connected to the chamber for efl'ecting its vertical compression, a 9 ring and means for adjusting it indepen ently of the chamber for varying the movement of the float, an indicator, and connections from the chamber to the indicator,

13. The combination of a tank for containing liquid, a bellows sha d chamber of resilient metal compressible 1D the direction of its vertical axis and containin a fluid, an indicator, connections from t e chamber to the indicator, a float in the tank con nect'ed with the chamber, a casing open to the fluid in the tank and surrounding the chamber and float, a spring for varying the compressing action of the float, adjusting screws for adjusting the 5 ring, a cap surrounding the casing provi ed with openings through which the adjusting screws may be adjusted, and means for closing the openin In testimony w ereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

CLARENCE A. on GIERS.

in the tank and directly connected to their respective compression chambers for efiecting their compression.

8. The combination of a tank for containing liquid, a closed compressible chamber containing a fluid, an indicator connected with the chamber, a vertically moving float in the tank, means connecting the float in the chamber beneath and to line therewith for effecting its compression, and means for counterbalancing the weight of the float.

9. The combination of a tank for containing liquid, a bellows shaped chamber 0 resilient metal compressible in the direction of its vertical axis and containing a fluid, an indicator, means connecting the indicator with the chamber, a float in the tank directly connected to the chamber for efiectini its compression, a casing open to the flui in the tank and surrounding the chamber and float, a spring independent of the cham ber and co-operating with the float for resisting its lifting action, and means adjustable through the casing for varying the tension of the sprin 10. The combination of a tank for containing liquid, a bellows sha ed chamber of resilient metal compressible 1n the direction of its vertical axis and containing a fluid, a float in the tank connected to the chamber, a neck secured to the chamber and having a liquid outlet, an indicator, pipe connections from theioutlet to the indicator, and a filling inlet extending through the neck of the interior of the chamber.

1l.-The combination of a tank for containing liquid, a chamber compressible in the direction of its vertical axis and containing a fluid, an indicator, means connecting the indicator with the chamber, a float in the tank connected to the chamber, a closing means arranged about the chamber to leave an air space around the chamber in communication with the tank, and means for sealing the closing means against escape of air from the tank.

12. The combination of a tank for containing liquid, a bellows shaped chamber of resilient metal compressible in the direction of its vertical axis and containing a fluid, a float of small diameter and substanf tially the depth of the tank directly connected to the chamber for effecting its vertical compression, 0, s ring and means for adjusting it indepen ently of the chamber for varying the movement of the float, an indicator, and connections from the chamber to the indicator.

13. The combination of a tank for containing liquid, a bellows sha d chamber of resilient metal compressible 1n the direction of its vertical axis and containing a fluid, an indicator, connections from the chamber to the indicator, a float in the tank connected with the chamber, a casing open to the fluid in the tank and surrounding the chamber and float, a spring for varying the compressing action of the float, adjusting screws for adjusting the spring, a cap surrounding the casing provided with openings through which the adjusting screws may be adjusted, and means for closing the openin In testimony w ereof, I have hereunto I set my hand.

CLARENCE A. DE GIERS.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,590,287, upon the application of Clarence A. de Giers, of New York,

iquid-Level Indicators, errors appear in the printed specification rement in anted June 29, 1926, Y., for an improvequiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 9, claim 8, for the word in read to and for the word to read in, and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of August, A. D. 1926.

M. J. MOORE,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,590,287, anted June 29, 1926, upon the a. plication of Clarence A. de Giers, of New York, Y., for an improvement in Eiquid-Level Indicators, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 9, claim 8, for the word in read to and for the word to read in; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent'oflice.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of August, A. D. 1926.

[SEAL] M. J. MOORE,

Acting Uonmiasiovwr of Patents. 

